Georgia’s solar jobs are booming, according to a new report from The Solar Foundation.

The national nonprofit research organization found more than 2,600 Georgians worked in the solar power industry and that the Peach State had the highest growth rate in the nation for solar from September 2012 to November 2013 at 225 percent.

That growth rate leapfrogged the state from 23rd to 16th place overall in national rankings for solar jobs.

Solar supporters greeted the data enthusiastically.

“This report shows that the solar industry is putting people to work to meet a growing percentage of our energy needs with a pollution-free energy source that has no fuel costs,” said Jennette Gayer with Environment Georgia.

In Savannah, Julian Smith started his solar business SolarSmith eight years ago, employing only himself for much of that time. For the last year, however, he’s had three employees. Other solar companies in Savannah also employ two or three workers, he said. And he expects the industry to get much bigger.

“When this takes off, I wouldn’t be surprised if 100,000 people were employed in Georgia,” he said. “You have to realize how many roofs there are in Georgia.”

Just in Chatham County there are more than 120,000 rooftops, he said.

“If you said on half you couldn’t put solar that leaves 60,000 buildings where we can put solar panels.”

He might be right, said Gayer, who pointed out that while Georgia is 16th overall in the number of solar jobs, it ranks 32nd in the number of solar jobs per capita, leaving lots of room for improvement.

As prices for solar come down, the regulatory and legal landscape for solar in Georgia also is evolving.

In July the Public Service Commission voted to add 525 megawatts of solar to Georgia Power’s 20-year plan. More than half of that total is to come online by 2016.

And in December, after public outcry and pressure from environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Environment Georgia and GreenLaw, Georgia Power backed off a proposal to tax new residential and small-scale commercial solar systems.

“We should continue to support this important, growing industry in Georgia by opening up free-market financing,” said Seth Gunning, Beyond Coal organizer with the Sierra Club.

A bill backed by state Sen. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, that would have allowed such financing didn’t make it into law, but the idea is back in the current legislative session.

The Solar Power Free-Market Financing and Property Rights Act, HB 874, would allow property owners to contract directly with solar financing companies and avoid the up-front costs of purchasing and installing solar panels.

“Allowing third-party sales and recognizing the true value solar power brings to our economy are strong first steps,” Gayer said.